Since I made these a few weeks ago they have become my go to for a classy and work appropriate look. I am slightly obsessed with them.
Pearl earrings add so much charm, yet, there is nothing charming about paying $11 dollars for a pair. Since I am so adept at loosing that one earring, I could never justify the cost.
The studs I used for this diy were actually a gift, so I don't know their price. However I have seen similar studs in sets for under $5. Paired with the blanks which run around 25¢ a pair and around 10 minutes, and you can have a thrifty pair for half the price!
Let's get going!
1 pair of stud earrings
1 pair of clip on earring blanks
Needle-nose pliers
Hot glue gun (not pictured)
1 - 2. Starting with your clip-on blank, and using the cutters on the needle-nose pliers, carefully trim off the loop. The easiest way I have found to do this is bend the loop to a 90 degree angle and then cut it parallel to arm of the earring.
3. Taking your stud, remove the backings and then using the snips on your pliers, remove the sharps. Try to get the profile as smooth as possible.
4. With your hot glue gun, place a dot of glue on the earring. Since you are trying to hide where the stud was, try dabbing the glue on that spot.
5. Hold to clip-on blank until the glue sufficiently dries (at least 1 minute). Note: if you try to rush this step the glue might not set as well.
6. Further secure the earring to the clip on by adding a string of glue from one side of the earring, over the arm of the clip-on and then to the other side of the earring. This connection will help the earring stay in place.
7. Let the earrings dry completely before messing with them. Wait for the hot glue to go cold (this can take up to 10 minutes).
Finished!
Helpful hints: Though the temptation is strong, please make sure your glue is dry before trying them on for the first time. If the glue isn't completely solid, it might just break right off, taking off the pearl coating with it once you have to start over and take off the now dried glue ... (not speaking from experience here ...) and that wouldn't look as pretty.
Also, though I have gotten away with it, try not to take them off by pulling at the pearl/charm/stud. I like to think of it as if you are pulling electrical cord out of an outlet and pulling it by the cord instead of the plug. It isn't the best idea to pull at the weakest link.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and if you are interested in part 1 you can just click the link below.
Part I DIY: From Pierced Dangle Earrings to Clip-ons
